Reflections with Andy - 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34 – The Lord’s Supper, Part Two
Today we look again at communion and talk a little bit about what we believe is happening from a United Methodist perspective, and talk about what it means to encounter Jesus at the table
What really happens when we come to the Lord’s Table? In today’s reflection, Andy continues exploring 1 Corinthians 11 by looking at the meaning of Holy Communion through the Wesleyan tradition. More than a ritual or remembrance, Communion is a sacrament—a means of grace through which Christ meets us in a real and powerful way. Together, we’ll reflect on why the Lord’s Table is central to Christian worship, how Communion retells the story of Jesus, and why we should always come with expectant hearts, ready to encounter the living Christ.
Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.
You can read today’s passage here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011%3A17-34&version=NRSVUE
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Good morning! It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday morning as we continue our daily reflections together.
Today I want to pick up where we left off yesterday. We spent our time talking about what Paul meant by eating and drinking “in an unworthy manner.” Today, I want to broaden the conversation a little and talk about Communion itself—what it means, why it’s so important, and specifically how we understand it as United Methodists and within the broader Wesleyan tradition.
Let’s begin again with 1 Corinthians 11:17–34.
Yesterday we talked about the historical context of this passage. In Paul’s day, Communion wasn’t a brief moment during a worship service like most of us experience today.
This past Sunday we celebrated Communion here at First United Methodist Church in Starkville. We prayed together, shared the bread, dipped it into the cup, and reflected on what Christ has done for us and what Christ continues to do within us. For most of us, that’s what Communion looks like—an important part of the worship service.
But in Corinth, Communion was part of an actual meal. Paul’s concern wasn’t simply about the ritual itself; it was about how Christians were treating one another around the table. That’s the context behind his warning about eating and drinking in an unworthy manner.
Today, though, I want to step back and ask a bigger question.
What is Communion?
I’ll answer that from my own tradition because every denomination understands Communion a little differently. There are almost as many views on Communion as there are Christian denominations, and I genuinely respect that. Churches have prayerfully discerned these questions for centuries.
But here’s how we understand it as United Methodists.
Paul says,
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
I love that verse because it reminds us that every time we gather around the Lord’s Table, we’re telling the story of Jesus.
We’re remembering.
Christians, if we’re honest, are prone to forget. That’s one reason Communion is so important.
In many ways, the Lord’s Supper functions much like the Jewish Passover meal. During Passover, every part of the meal retells the story of God’s deliverance from Egypt. In the same way, every celebration of Holy Communion retells the story of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and promise to come again.
In our tradition, Communion is one of two sacraments.
A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
One of the beautiful things about our sacramental theology is that God is always the primary actor.
Yes, our obedience matters.
Yes, we come in faith.
But the most important thing happening at the table isn’t what we’re doing.
It’s what God is doing.
God is the One giving grace.
God is the One meeting us.
God is the One drawing us closer to Himself.
That’s why, in the United Methodist Church, the specific method of receiving Communion isn’t nearly as important as receiving it in faith. Some churches use individual cups. Others use a common cup. Some use wafers. Others use homemade bread.
Those practices vary.
The grace of God does not.
Every time we come to the table, we believe God is giving Himself to us through His grace.
We also believe in what is often called the real presence of Christ.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that the Eucharist is a mystery. In fact, the word Eucharist itself reminds us that we’re talking about something sacred that ultimately can’t be explained away.
I’m certainly not smart enough to unpack all of the mystery of what God is doing in Holy Communion.
But I do know this.
As United Methodists, we do not believe the bread and the juice simply become ordinary symbols with no deeper meaning.
Neither do we claim we can fully explain exactly how Christ is present.
Instead, we confess that through these ordinary elements, Christ truly meets us.
His real presence is made known within our hearts.
When we receive the bread and the cup in faith, Christ is genuinely present with His people.
That’s why Communion is such a holy moment.
I’ve often said that serving Communion may be the most important thing I do as a pastor.
I genuinely look forward to it every month.
On our very first Communion Sunday here in Starkville, Holly and I served the entire congregation together. We wanted it to be a visible sign of our desire to serve this church, and it remains one of my favorite memories from these first months of ministry.
I also remember another Communion service that I’ll never forget.
Years ago, I was going through a season of deep worry and uncertainty. I texted a friend of mine who was an Episcopal priest and asked him if there was anywhere nearby serving Communion that day.
He replied, “No—but meet me at my church.”
So I did.
The two of us sat quietly in that sanctuary, and he celebrated Communion just for me.
For those few moments, he became my pastor.
It was one of the holiest experiences of my life, and I’ve never forgotten it.
That’s my prayer for all of us.
Whenever your church celebrates Communion—whether it’s every week, once a month, once a quarter, or only a few times each year—I hope you’ll come to the table with an expectant heart.
Come expecting to encounter Jesus.
Come expecting to receive His grace.
Come expecting to be changed.
Because I truly believe Christ meets us there.
Before we finish, here’s one little piece of Methodist trivia.
The grape juice many churches use for Communion traces its roots back to Thomas Welch, a Methodist layman. He wanted there to be a non-alcoholic option so that everyone could receive Communion, especially those who struggled with alcohol.
That’s a fitting reminder of something we’ve been talking about these last two days.
Methodists have always loved the open table.
We believe Christ’s invitation is wide, His grace is abundant, and all who desire to draw near to Him are welcome.
Tomorrow we’ll move into 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul begins talking about spiritual gifts—and yes, the Corinthians are still fussing and fighting.
So we’ll pick up there tomorrow.
Thanks for being with me today. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you again in the morning.